WMU News

Two new project management programs to debut this fall

Aug. 31, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Two new noncredit programs in project management will be available this fall through Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. One will be offered exclusively in Grand Rapids, Mich. The other will run in both Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

WMU will offer a seven-day, in-depth program leading to a Project Management Certificate starting Sept. 21 at its Grand Rapids Regional Center, 2333 East Beltline SE. It also will host a six-part live videoconference called "Hot Topics, Tools and Techniques in Project Management" starting Oct. 21 at the regional center in Grand Rapids and on the main campus in Kalamazoo.

Both new programs are being offered in cooperation with the International Institute for Learning, a provider of project management training to colleges, universities and businesses throughout the United States.

James McFaul, who oversees noncredit training programs for the Haworth College of Business, says acquiring project management skills is increasingly important in today's rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace.

"Employers are requiring more and more of their project managers, engineers and team members," McFaul says, "especially when it comes to managing multiple projects in a variety of areas, controlling and decreasing costs, and increasing productivity. Our new noncredit programs will raise participants' level of competence to manage projects, which will benefit both employers and their clients and customers."

Those enrolling in the certificate program will attend classes at the Grand Rapids Regional Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21 and 22, Oct. 21 and 22, and Nov. 17, 18 and 19. The program costs $2,695 and includes materials, lunch and refreshments. It is designed for project managers, team members, project engineers, project leaders, operation managers and others involved directly or indirectly with projects for nearly every industry.

Topics covered will include introduction to project management, project scope management, project time management, project human resources management, project cost management, project risk management, project quality management, project procurement management and project communications management.

The program on "Hot Topics, Tools and Techniques in Project Management" will be a live videoconference broadcast to universities and colleges across the country from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2 and 9. Downlink sites are the Grand Rapids Regional Center and Schneider Hall on the main campus in Kalamazoo.

The program costs $500 per person for all six sessions in the series. Participants must pay the full series fee; they may not pay on an individual-session basis.

The series will squarely address troublesome problems that can derail project management efforts. It is designed to help managers increase profits, control and decrease costs, improve teamwork, decrease work and stress, manage risk, increase efficiency, and eliminate bottlenecks.

McFaul notes that the Haworth College of Business offers traditional project management courses and seminars but says the two new offerings add new dimensions to such training.

"The Certificate Program is an advanced project management program and incorporates various processes across the project life cycle phases," he said. "The video downlink provides a short-term learning experience covering current topics that allows participants to gain valuable insight as they interact with peers and the session trainers."

For registration information or more information, call McFaul in the Haworth College of Business at (616) 387-6608.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu


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